Network of Women With Disabilities Demands Inclusion in Governance
By Chima Azubuike
The Network of Women With Disabilities on Friday organised a rally to demand inclusion into governance of Gombe State and the country at large.
Our Correspondent reports that the rally was organised in collaboration with Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative with support from MacArthur Foundation.
Some of the inscriptions on their cards include; Women with disabilities have rights to participate in politics, PWDs are capable include us in governance positions and programmes, use Nigeria’s disability laws to include us in governance, provide for five per cent (women), of 15 per cent of Nigerians living with disabilities to contribute to governance and so on.
Addressing members at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Gombe State Coordinator Rebecca Hassan-Kwayama, lamented the neglect of women in critical decision making, adding that they are capable of measuring up in leadership roles.
According to Hassan-Kwayama, lack of education remained a major challenge, since many of them are not educated, stressing that for those who had weathered the storm of attaining enlightenment are still struggling with opportunities.
She said, “You hardly find a woman being a PWD and included in political parties affairs very few number negligible number. The impediment of women is usually more than one. We think it’s a yardstick of taming them down.”
While explaining that Network of Women With Disabilities came to Gombe last year January, Hassan-Kwayama disclosed that the organisation in the state has over 3,000 registered members with varying impediments. “We have it in 36 days including Abuja. Last year (2022) January when we started in Gombe State we registered people from the 11 local governments, for now we have 3000 women registered under the Network of Women With Disabilities,” Hassan-Kwayama added.
Also speaking, WRAPA State Coordinator Anita Dogo, said women are important to the society, urging them to have self esteem, despite the challenges.
She reminded them of the need to avoid being idle, adding that “as elections come don’t sell your votes, develop the needed self esteem to triumph.”
Also, Gombe State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Naomi Awak, who was represented by the Director of Administration and Finance Muritala Sambo, lauded the organisers for the rally, assuring them that the government would support policies geared towards including the network and its members.
“The administration of Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, will surely provide support to people living with disabilities to the latter. We are fully in support of the programme,” Awak said, while stressing that they should not be discouraged but be rather be committed in taking up relevant opportunities,” Awak said.
On her part, Mariam Mohammed-Gana, Head of Gender and inclusivity Gombe Independent National Electoral Commission, urged them to participate during the forthcoming general elections.
Mohammed-Gana, disclosed that the commission has made necessary plans in place towards ensuring the protection of electorates, especially PWDs.
While sensitising them on participation during election, she emphasised the need to use trusted persons as aides to avoid conflicting choices in deciding candidates to vote.
Meanwhile, the Network in a communique read by its Secretary Linda Ayuba, on 2023 elections and beyond; Abridged Charter of Demands of Women With Disabilities.
The four-point charter with Articles one to nine, decried lack of political participation of women with disabilities in parties, “Political parties should encourage women with disabilities to aspire for and serve in leadership and executive positions, with special measures for their protection in all political processes especially during election periods,” Ayuba said.
